Clip for tubular caps



Dec. 22, 1936. c. E. MARSHALL 2,065,010

CLIP FOR TUBULAR CAPS Filed Feb. 20, 1936 5 5 i 5 r I 5 5 g 5 1 a 1 I 5 4 #ATTORN I Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to spring clips designed for use in connection with elongated tubular or thimble-shaped caps such as are employed in connection with various articles of manufacture and used as a closure or cover cap therefor; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical manner of constructing the clip and forming the cap to facilitate mounting of the clip in connection therewith so as to produce the desired device at the lowest possible cost, and at the same time produce a simple and effective spring clip for articles of the kind described; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the character described which is simple and eificient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of one end portion of a cap showing one method of mounting a clip in connection therewith; and,

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are views similar to Fig. 1 showing different methods of mounting the clip in connection with the cap.

In the several figures of the drawing, I have indicated at 5 one end portion of a tubular or thimble-shaped cap which is open at one end, and the other end of which is provided with a closure wall 6. Opposed walls of the cap 5 are provided with apertures or slits I and 8. The aperture I is arranged inwardly of and in spaced relation to the end wall 5, whereas the aperture 8 is preferably arranged in alinement with the inner surface 9 of the end wall 6 as seen in the several views, it being understood that the apertures I and 8 are opposed to each other as shown.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown a spring clip at I0; and in that the clips shown in the other figures of the drawing differ only in the structure of one end portion thereof, these clips are identified as Illa in Fig. 2, [0b in Fig. 3, and la in Fig. 4. The clips are made from strips of sheet metal or wire, one end portion of which is fashioned to form the spring arm I I terminating at its free end in an outwardly curved portion I 2. The other end portion I3 is curved to join a straight shank portion I 4 which is arranged within the aperture 1. The curved portion I3 joins the straight portion M in an offset shoulder part I300 which serves to limit inward movement of the clip with respect to the wall of the cap 5.

Adjacent the shank portion I4 is an angular extension I5 adapted to engage the inner surface of the side wall of the tube 5 and to extend in the direction of the closed end wall 6. Extending angularly from the extension I5 is a long mounting strip [6 which is normally curved or offset inwardly as indicated in dot and dash lines at Hill in Fig. 1 of the drawing to facilitate the mounting of the parts I5 and I6 within the bore of the tubular cap 5 after passing through the aperture I. In completing the attachment of the clip to the cap, a suitable plunger or tool is inserted into the bore of the cap to engage the bowed or curved portion IEa and to straighten out the same, in which operation, the free end of the strip I6 passes into the aperture 8.

With the construction shown in Fig. 1, the free or outer end of the strip l6 terminates in alinement with the outer surface of the tube 5. However, with the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawing, this strip will be bowed to a greater degree so as to extend the ends of the strips beyond the outer surface of the caps 5. In Fig. 2 of the drawing, the projecting end I! is folded or compressed onto the outer surface of the cap 5, whereas in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the outer surface of the cap 5 is provided With a recess l8 into which the end IIa of the strip I6 is folded or compressed so as to bring the outer surface of the end I'Ia flush with the outer surface of the cap. In Fig. 4 of the drawing, the projecting end Nb of the strip I0 is threaded to receive a knob or head I9. In some instances, however, the knob or other member l9 may simply be glued or otherwise secured to the projecting end Ill).

The spring arm II including the end portions I2 and is of the clip may be of any desired contour or design and of such length as to suit the articles in connection with which the same is employed. While the width of the clip I0 is or may be greater than the mounting or attaching end portion thereof, said mounting or attaching 4 end portion will be of the same thickness throughout excepting that, in some cases, the end portion which passes into and through the aperture 8 may be reduced in size or modified in contour.

Other means than the ofiset I3a may be provided for preventing inward movement of the spring clip. In the use of the device, as the curved end I2 is moved outwardly by the insertion of a support between the clip and the wall of the cap 5, there is a swing or hinge tendency contributed to the end portion of the clip where it passes through the wall of the cap, but this is checked by the engagement of the end portion of the mounting strip 5 with the cap.

Having fully described my invention, what 1' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the class described comprising a tubular body having a closure wall at one end, said body having an aperture extending through the wall thereof adjacent said end wall, another perture extending through the wall of said body ill, a point opposed to said first named aperture and inwardly of the end wall of said body, a spring clip having a curved spring arm arranged outwardly of the tubular body, said clip including a mounting end portion which extends into the tubular body through the second named aperture, said mounting portion including a long straight part transversing the tubular body and extending into the first named .aperture and arranged adjacent and contacting the end wall of the tubular body, said mounting portion having a short part arranged at right angles to one end of the long part and joining the curved spring arm in .a part I extending outwardly through the second aperture, and means at the other end of the long straight part for retaining the clip against displacement from said body.

2, A spring clip for tubular bodies having apertures in the wall of said body at opposed points, said clip comprising a spring arm arranged outwardly of said body. said. clip having a mounting end portion extending from the inner end of said arm and consisting of long and short angular wall portions adapted to extend through one of the apertures in said body, the long wall portion being straight and transversing the tubular body and contacting the end wall thereof and adapted to extend into and through the other aperture therein in coupling the clip with said tubular body, and the short wall portion being arranged adjacent and contacting the wall of said body having the first named aperture.

3. A spring clip for tubular bodies having apertures in the wall of said body at opposed points, said clip comprising a spring arm arranged outwardly of said body, said clip having a mounting end portion extending from the inner end of said arm and consisting of long and short angular wall portions adapted to extend through one of the apertures in said body, the long wall portion being straight and transversing the tubular body and contacting the end wall thereof and adapted to extend into and through the other aperture therein in coupling the clip with said tubular body, the short wall portion being arranged adjacent and contacting the wall of said body having the first named aperture, and means on the end of the long wall portion and on the exterior of the cap for retaining said clip against movement relatively to said body. V 1 r.

4. The combination with a tubular cap having apertures in the tubular portion thereof adjacent the end wall of the cap, of a clip consisting of an elongated strip of metal, one end of which forms a mounting portion consisting of angularly arranged parts arranged within the cap and continuously contacting the walls of said cap and projecting outwardly through the apertures in said cap, means at the ends of said mounting portion for retaining the same against transverse movement with respect to said cap, and a long spring arm extending from one end of said mounting portion and arranged outwardly and longitudinally of the tubular portion of said cap.

CLINTON E. MARSHALL. 

